Typewriting machine



April 4, 1939. w. F. HELMO ND TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l NVENTOR: ifllmfflm BY iTTORNEY? A ril 4, 1939. w. F. HELMOND 2,152,343

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 hwamoas TTORN April 4, 1939. w. F. HELMOND TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 A ril 4; 1939. w. F. HELMOND TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1936 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 4, 1939 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE mswmrme MACHINE William F. Helmoml, West Hartford, Conn, as signer to Underwood Elliott Fisher Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application July 17, Y. 1936, Serial No. 91,020 27 Claims. or. 197-157) Among-the features of the invention are the provision of an improved ribbon-vibrator operating mechanism, actuated by the depression of the key-levers, comprising devices that positively eliminate and "eradicate a difficulty heretofore experienced with bichrome typewriter ribbons, namely, theimprinting on work-sheets of characters in part the selected color and'in part the other color of a bichrome ribbon or the imprinting of characters onlyin part, either condition being commonly called bleeding in'this art.

These positive ribbon-positioning devices include a pivot connection, betweenthe ribbon-vibrator supporting arm and the ribbon-vibrator actuating arm, that can be precisely adjusted toeliminate every bit of lost motion in this pivot connection by eliminating the play heretoiore existlng in this connection.

These improvements include a positive stop which is easily and positively adjustable whereby the initial height oi. the ribbon or the initial position of the ribbon with reference to the printing point is precisely predetermined. I

The improvements include also a plurality of stops, that prevent overthrow of the ribbon-vibrator, which are simultaneously and selectively positioned in concomitant relationship with a plurality of cam shoulders that selectively determine the lengthwise zone of a.bichrome ribbon presented at the printing point on the platen, or a neutral position for stenciling, and which can be positively adjusted. The shoulders may be mounted on a slide arm andbe separated by inclined edges to form a composite cash.

The improvements include also an arm which may be positively adjusted to precisely predetermine the throw of-the ribbon-guide for either of the bichrome bands, for all of the key-levers, and an adjusting element for each key-lever, to adjust the t ow of a bichrome ribbon to either of the bichr me-color positions at the printing point on the platen.

A further improvement is a main ribbon-vibra-,

tor-actuating arm of suflicient length that when pivoted at one end and operatively connected at the other end the difference in the throw of the upper end of the arm is minute when moving the ribbon-vibrator to one case position rather than to another, and also another improvement is the proyision of an inclined slot in the end of said pivoted arm, the inclination of the slot and parts broken away.

being such that the movement of a pin mounted on the ribbon-vibrator arm upwardly or downwardly in said slot substantially counterbalances as closely as desired the different throws of the main actuating arm for different case positions 5 of a bichrome-ribbon vibrator.

lmprovements'over the ribbon-vibrator shown in my pending application Serial No. 69,130, filed March 16, 1936, involve an integral triangular piece extending upwardly from the obliquely, forwardly, and outwardly extending arm mounted on each fork and integral therewith, to reinforce said metal vibrator and permit of lighter and thinner material and provide two oppositely inclined surfaces that tend to support the ribbon against downward crinkling or slipping when the vibrator is moved upwardly.

Further improvements are touch-control de vices interengaging with the ribbon-vibrator universal bar and comprising a coil-spring mounted on the spacer-bar fulcrum-bracket and a fingerpiece accessible on the outside of the typewriter to vary the spring tension resistance to downward movement of the universal bar when intercepted by the key-levers.

Another improvement'is an. adjustable overthrow .stop-arm mounted on the rock-shaft that mounts the ribbon-vibrator universal bar, which engages the spacer-bar rock-shaft to check down- I wardmovement of the universal bar at a predearm just prior to assembly, the assembled position being indicated in dot-and-dash lines.

Figure 3 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing the spring-detent arm of the adjustable sector-arm for varying the tension of theuniversal-bar tension spring in engagement, with one of the detent-not ches.

Figure 4 is a plan view, partly in section, showing the notched sector engaged by the tension-, varying pinion and the sector-adjusting arm in the last or zero position.

Figure 5 is a side elevation, parts in section Figure 6 is a side elevation of the main actuating arm, the toggle and overthrow stop being set for the black band'of the ribbon in inoperative position, and the link connecting with the universal bar being broken away.

Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 6 but with the parts in the stenciling position.

Figure 8 is a side elevation showing a key depressed and a type engaging the upper zone of the bichrome ribbon.

Figure 9 is a side elevation similar to Figure 8 but with a type engaging the lower (red) zone of a bichrome ribbon.

Figure 10 is a vertical section showing a fixed bearing connecting the ribbon vibrator arm and the actuating arm.

Figure 11 is a side view of the parts shown in Figure 10.

Figure 1-2 is a plan view showing the cam shoulder set to present the lower band (red) of a bichrome ribbon at the printing point.

Figure 13 is a side elevation showing the parts set to present the lower band (red) of a bichrome ribbon at the printing point with the main vibrator actuating arm in engagement with the overthrow stop.

Figure 14 is a side elevation showing the flnger-actuating piece 'for adjusting the touch-control spring of the universal bar set under "7 on the index-scale, which is the maximum tension adjustment of the spring.

Figure 15 is a plan view of a modification ofa color index and of the related cam shoulders, with the parts set to present the lower band (red) of a bichrome ribbon at the printing point.

Figure 16 is a side elevation similar to Figure 7 but of a modified toggle in which the slotted arm is lengthened so that the toggle in the extreme operative position is in a position less than that of a straight angle, the arm connecting with the universal bar being shown bent upwardly.

Figure 17 is a front elevation with parts in section showing the mounting of the shaft for the touch-control tension spring, the tension-varying pinion, and the control arm.

As shown in Figure 5, a typewriter frame 28 supports at the lower rear end a cross-bar 2| on which the rear ends ofkey-levers 22 are pivoted by a pivot rod 23 extending along the cross-bar 2|. A coil spring 24 resiliently engages the under side of each key-lever 22 and the upper surface of the cross-bar 2|, thereby tending to hold the key-levers 22 in their uppermost position in a comb 90. There are four banks of key-levers 22 with the lowermost of the keys 25 being broken away as shown in Figure 5. Adjacent each keylever 22 is a link 26 pivoted on a transverse pivot rod 21 and actuated to tilt forwardly or backwardly by a pin-and-slot connection 28 with the adjacent key-lever 22. Each type-bar 29 has at its rear or lower end a pin-and-slot connection 38 with the upper end of the link 26 whereby, when any key 25 is depressed, the corresponding typebar 29 is swung on the segment rod 3| as a fulcrum, so that lower-case type 32 or upper-case type 33 are swung upwardly to the printing point on a platen 41, which is mounted for shifting to the upper-case position 51, by means hereinafter shown and described. A segment rest 34 encases a segmental cushion 35 on which the heads of the type-bars 29 recline. An escapement universal bar 36 is engaged and actuated by a cam-surface 31 on each of the type-bars 29 and has a rearward extension 38, which has at the rear rearwardly extending arms 81 which have pivotal connection with the upper ends of arms 88 which are supported on a rock-shaft 89 on the frame 43. Rearward thrusts of the universal bar extension 38 rock the escapement stops 39 on the pivot 40 to allow the ratchet wheel 4| to turn together with an interlocked pinion 42 on which lies a carriage-rack 55 which is mounted on arms 56 depending from a carriage 44 which is thereby permitted to advance in letter-space movement, as is well-known in the art.

The carriage 44 is mounted for reciprocatory movement on a track 45, supported on the typewriter frame at the front and on a rail 46, mounted on the frame 28 at the rear. Depending feet 48, whichare pivotally mounted on a rod 49, carry at their lower extremities rolls 50 which support the platen 41 on a case-shift rail 5|, which is supported on a case-shift frame 52, the latter having pivotal mountings 53 at each end in the frame 20 of the machine and being raised by a usual shift lever connected with a-key on the front of the machine as is well-known. in the art. A rack 55 travels on the pinion 42 and is supported from the carriage 44 by arms 56. Vertical ribbon-feed shafts 58 support ribbon spools 59.

The ribbon comprises two lengthwise bands or zones, an upper black'zone 60 and a lower red zone 6|, and therefore is now called in the art, a "bichrome" ribbon. As is shown in Figure 5, the top 01 the ribbon normally lies below the printing point in the guide of a ribbon-vibrator 62, and as a type-key is depressed the vibrator 62 is raised to interpose either zone of the bichrome ribbon between type 32, 33 and the'platen 41. The ribbon-vibrator 62 is forked at the upper end, each fork carrying a forwardly projecting guide 63 for precisely positioning the ribbon-vibrator in its vertically reciprocating movement. The upper end of each fork is an upwardly projecting flat piece 64 which forms the supporting stem of each of two symmetrical parts of the ribbon guide of the vibrator 62. The upwardly projecting flat pieces 64 terminate at the top in integral horizontally, outwardly, and forwardly extending top pieces 65, which act as stops against the upper edge of the ribbon and prevent it from rising on the guides, the form of the top pieces 65 at right angles to the vertical flat pieces 64 and their construction of thin sheet metal allowing an initial setting of the .vibrator very close to the printing point without affecting the visibility of the line of printing, and so permitting a minimum of throw or motion in raising the ribbon from the inoperative to the printing position. Projecting outwardly, forwardly, obliquely, and horizontally from the pieces 64, integral arms 66 provide supports and guides for the lower edge of the ribbon, and at their outer extremities support uprights 61 which terminate at the top in inwardly and horizontally turned stops 68 which lie in the same horizontal plane as the top-pieces 65 and also act as stops to prevent upward rising of the ribbon. Pieces 65 and stops 68 are separated to provide a slot for the insertion of the ribbon in the guide transversely to the normal path of movement of the ribbon. Formed integral with the outer edge of each of the upright pieces 64 and the adjacent arm 66 is a triangular reinforcing piece 69 having an obliquely inclined ribbon-guiding and sustaining edge 19, said edge tending to prevent crinkling of the ribbon or its downward slipping. The triangular reinforcing piece 69 tends to keep the guides from bending and permits lightening the weight of the vibrator by permitting the use of thinner material or metal than formerly. As compared with a former ribbon-vibrator which fully exposes the line of printing when the vibrator is down in the inoperative position, the top edge of the ribbon in the present ribon-vibrator guide may be raised .033 inch and still give the same visibility at the printing point,:or-., in other words the throw of the ribbon in lowercase printing position is' lessened by .033 inch.

The ribbon-vibrator 62 has a rearwardly bent lower end to provide space for a pivotal connec.-. tion II with an arcuate horizontally positioned ing collar or gasket I5 surrounds the fulcrum pin I3 and overlies an enlarged central cylindrical portion of the fulcrum-pin I3, the ends of which,

where they join the smaller cylindrical ends,form stops for the inner edges of ears I4, and is provided with sufficient play between its-ends and the ears I4 that the bearing collar I5 may turn freely therebetween without binding thereon. After the fulcrum-pin I3 is inserted under a hook I6 into a slot ILas indicated in Figure 2, the hook I6 is bent down to the position shown in Figure 11 by special pliers which leave the throat I8 of the slot H in such a form that no play of the collar or gasket I5 can take place away from the circular bottom of the slot 11. The ribbonvibrator 62 is definitely and permanently located for pivotal movement with reference to the slot in the end of the vibrator-actuating arm I2. The bending of the hook I6 to constrict the throat of the slot 11 avoids all play, which has existed in'a former construction, between the gasketed fulcrum-pin I3 and the end of the actuating arm I2 so that when the ribbon is thrown there can be no variation in the motion imparted to the ribbon by the arm 12 due to play between the arm I2 and the vibrator 62. As shown in Figures 1 and 12 a bracket 19 may be secured on the inner side of shift rail 5| for lengthwise adjustment thereon by means of, screws I49 passing through horizontal slots in the bracket I9. This horizontal adjustment of the bracket I9 provides means for compensating for variations in the position of the shift-rail 5|. The bracket I9 has a right-angular rearward and downwardly inclined extension on which is supported a transverse pivot-pin 9| on which the actuating arm I2 is mounted to rock as a fulcrum. Supported on the rear upper end of the arm I2 and extending transversely therefrom to the right is a cylindrical pin 90 which closely and slidably fits in an inclined slot a: the walls of which are formed by the bifurcation of the upper end of an arm 93 and are in parallel and incline forwardly at the top at a predetermined angle selected to compensate for, or to predetermine desired variations in the throw of the ribbon between lower-case and upper-case positions.

The main actuating arm 93 is mounted for forward and rearward oscillatory movement on a pivot-screw 84 carried in the forward extension of a bracket 95 secured by screws 86 to, the frame 20 of the machine. It is now obvious that this oscillatory movement of the arm 93 forwardly and rearwardly rocks the actuating arm I2 up and down to raise and lower the ribbon-vibrator 62 and to interpose the ribbon between the type 32, 33 and the printing point on the platen 41.

To provide overthrow stops for the main actuating arm 83, a slide-arm 9| is provided with two centrally positioned, horizontally elongated slots 92. The screws 93 mounted on the bolts 94 screwed into the frame 43 slidably mount the arm 9i by means of the slots 92. Between the slots 92 on the slide arm 9| are mounted three ribbonbendable to adjust its position with reference to the upper inner edge of the arm 83, as s own'in Figures 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,'and 12, the 95 sto being for red, the 96 stop being for black, and the 9! stop being for the stenciling position. Care must be taken not to bend any of the stops too much to result in preventing complete action of the type-bars. In fact, a close adjustment should be resorted to only in extreme cases, for example, to adjust the ribbon-vibrator for the uniformly heavy touch of certain operators.

A horizontally disposed link 99 has an upturned left end which is pivoted by means of a screw 99 to the right end of the slide arm 9l. A

forwardly projecting lever-arm I02 swings laterally on a pivot IOI as a fulcrum and is pivotally connected at its rear end with a screw I so that a leftward movement of the forward end of the arm I02 causes a rightward movement of a the slide arm 9| and the overthrow stops 95, 96, and 91, and vice versa. The forward end of the lever-arm I02, as shown-in Figures 1 and is bent upwardly at right angles and then backwardly at right angles to form the upper fiat piece I03 having a rearwardly projecting slot I04 centrally positioned therein, which permits an operating finger I05 toswing rearwardly there- 1 in.

with the arm I02 and underneath it for engaging an annular groove I09 in the handle I 05 detachably to secure it in operative position. A plate H0, also clearly shown in Figure 12, is provided with an opening III having a maximum frontto-rear dimension co-extensive with that of the slot I04, and the front edge thereof is provided with three notches H2, one adjacent an index field on the plate H0 corresponding to the setting of each of the overthrow stops, 95, 96, and

91, a red field H3, a white field H4 (forstenoiling), and a black field H5.

An arm H6, pivotaily connected by a screw I5I to the arm 99, extends obliquely, forwardly and to the left and is bent to extend parallel with the arm 99. It is clear therefore that as the arm 99 slides to the right or left the arm H6 also slides synchronously and co-extensively, as shown in Figures land 12, to present shoulders H1, H9, and H9, the inner edge H'I causing the greatest throw of the vibrator 62 and thereby presenting the red zone 6| of the ribbon at the printing point, the edge H9 causing the black zone 60 of the ribbon to be presented at the printing point, and the edge H9 permitting the ribbon to remain below the printing point, all as will be more particularly hereinafter set forth. Any desired arrangement of the fields H3, H4, and I I5 may be selected, in which case the overthrow stops, 95, 96, and 91, and the shoulders therewith.

overthrow stops, 95, 96, and'9'l, each positively 5 The mechanism controlled by the shoulders throw the ribbon up into printing position is now described. A transverse pin I 20, mounted on an upper rearward extension of the arm 83, projects horizontally to the right and adjacent its mounting the right end of a toggle arm I2I is pivotally mounted thereon to swing in a plane that parallels a side of the arm 83. The other arm I22 of the toggle is provided with an end slot I23. A pin I24 pivotally links the toggle arms I2I,' I22 and the depending link I25 so that the raising and lowering of the link I25 breaks the toggle and actuates the toggle, respectively. The lower extremity of the link I25 is pivotally secured by a pivot screw I26 to an upturned car on the rear end of a rearwardly extending arm I21, which has an intermediate upward right-angled bend and a forward right-angled bend which provides a corner to overlie the top and the front face of a square-shaped rock-shaft I29 to which it is secured by a screw I28. The rearward portion of the arm I2'I is bendable upwardly -or downwardly to determine the initial position of the link I25. The rock-shaft I29 rocks on an adjustable pivot screw I30 which is mounted on arm I3I which depends from a stub-shaft I32 at the left mounted in the frame of the machine, and at the right end on a pivot screw I85 mounted on a plate "4 depending from the spacer-bar fulcrum bracket "0. It is new evident that the bracket-arm I2'I swings on a fulcrum that coincides with the central axis of the rock-shaft I29. Near either end of the rock-shaft I29 a rearwardly projecting bracket-arm I33 is mounted thereon by means of a U-shaped end adapted to fit over the arm I29 to which it is affixed by screws I34. The bracket-arms I33 support on their rear extremities, together with the bracketarm I2'I, a universal bar I35 which is reinforced by a bar I66 and is provided with bendable upwardly and rearwardly extending tongues I36 divided into four groups of different length, each group underlying and being intercepteed by a camming downward projection I3I from the bottom of the key-lever 22 connected with the corresponding horizontal row of keys 25. The pin I20 extends to the right of the toggle a suflicient extent to provide a long contact edge in parallel with the flat rear wall of a bendable stop-arm I38, which is fastened by a screw I53 over a depending foot of a bracket I42 to the front Wall of. an arm I39. A coil-spring I90 has an extension I9I which tends to lift the universal bar I35 and the tongues I36 into engagement with the projections I31 on the key-levers 22 and to raise the actuating link I25 to break the toggle I2I, I 22. A coil-spring MI is fastened to the arm 83 and to the forward and downward extension of the bracket I42 and tends to move the arm 83 forr of the and ward, to bring the pin I20 forward into engagement with the stop I38, and to lift or break the toggle I2I, I22. A fastening screw I43 pivotally mounts an arm I44 on the right side of the for-. ward and downward extension of the bracket I42. A spring I 45 secured to a rearward extension I44 and to the bracket I42 tends to swing the arm I44 upwardly and forwardly about a pivot-screw I43. A pin I46 is horizontally mounted on the top of the arm I44 and normally lies within the toggle slot I23. It is now clear that the springs I45 and MI, the latter tying the front end of the bracket I42 and the main actuating arm 83, resiliently hold the front edge of the arm I44 in engagement with the rear edge of the arm H6 in three separate and distinctive forward-rearward positions depending upon which of the three cam shoulders III, II8, II9

engages the forward end of the arm I44, and holds the pin I20 in engagement with the stop I38. As the arm II8 moves transversely to change the position of the arm I44 the front edge of which is in resilient engagement with the rear edge of said arm I I6, inclined edges separate the shoulder II] from the shoulder H9 and the shoulder II8 from the shoulder II9, so that the front edge of the arm I44 slides gently back or is pushed easily forward by the inclined edge to the next position. Thus, the adjacent shoulders H1, H8, H8, being connected by inclined portions, may be regarded as a composite cam which, upon being moved laterally of the arm I44, moves or cams the said arm to the desired setting. The relative positions of the parts and their proportions are such that the upward movement of any of the tongues I36 in engagement with a projection I31 on a key-lever 22 is stopped by the comb 90 (Figure 5) which concomitantly predetermines the initial rest position of the toggle pivot-pin I24 and limits the movement of the arm I 22 to withdraw the slot I23 away from the pin I46 to the extreme position shown in Figure 7. The position of the stop I38 positively determines the beginning of actuating motion by the arm 83 and consequently the initial position of the top of the ribbon below the printing line of the platen. The rear part of arm I2! is bendable up or down to vary the I extent of the downward motion of the actuating link I25 and consequently the throw of the ribbon for either red or black is easily varied. The tongues I36 are bendable individually to coordinate the motion of each key lever and associated type action, with the ribbon vibrating mechanism. Since the toggle pivot I24 is preferably moved in a constantly uniform extent of motion, it is therefore preferred that the link I25, in actuating the toggle, be moved correspondingly in a uniform extent of motion, so that the respective links, I 2I I22, always assume substantially the same initial position and are always actuated to a substantially straight condition.

The improvements involve a long actuating arm 83 pivoted at its lower end so that the change in leverage effected by raising the pin 80 in the slot 82 as the platen is shifted from lower-case to upper-case position is a very minute proportion of the whole leverage so that the change in throw of the ribbon in upper-case position is very small, but this change, slight as it is, may be exactly and precisely compensated for by the provision of a forwardly and upwardly inclined slot 82 in which the transverse pin 80 exactly fits, or the throw may be changed within the limits of the construction disclosed by increasing or by decreasing the inclination of the walls of the slot 82.

The movement of the arm 83 is effected by the toggle I22, I2I and the initial starting point for ribbon-throw is determined by the engagement of pin I 20, transversely on arm 83, and the adjustable stop I38. The top of the ribbon may therefore be precisely positioned with reference to the printing point by bending the stop I38 forwardly or rearwardly, the stop I 38 being made of bendable material for facile but for precise adjustment in this manner.

In using a bichrome ribbon three different ribbon positions are required, namely, the usual black-zone position, the red-zone position, and the neutral position, and so three different conditions are involved in the ribbon-vibrating mechanism, two different throwing motions and one in which there is no throwing motion. The

pin I20 fast on the arm 83 moves the arm 63 to the right as the toggle is actuated by depressing the link- I25, the movement of depression being directly related to that of universal bar I35 so that in order to vary the motion of the toggle between its extremites the arm II6 is slidable across the front of the end of the toggle to present differently spaced surfaces H1, H8, H9 which in conjunction with the pivoted arm I variously position a transverse pin I46 with reference to the bottom of slot I23 in the end of the toggle to provide a slidingly variable pivotal connection for the left end of the toggle. In effect the pin I46 and slot I23 constitute a lostmotion device for the toggle, the limits of lost motion or ineffective motion being variable by selectively setting the pin I46 in relation to the end of the slot I23. The pivoted arm I is yieldably retained against one of the shoulders H1, H8, H9, on arm II6, movement of which sets the position of the pin I46, and so varies the effective length of the toggle I2I, I22, to move the arm 83 to the right through different motions, or not at all in a neutral position, and consequently to raise the ribbon to different positions or not at all for the stenciling position. It is also clear that if the link 25 be depressed less than the full down stroke the throw of the ribbon is reduced so that by bending up the bracket arm I21 supported by the universal bar I35 the throw of the ribbon is decreased slightly, as illustrated in Figure 16. It is also to be noted that the downward stroke of any key-lever 22 is positively terminated by the contact of a type 32, 83 with the platen 41.

Mounted for synchronous and concomitant sliding action with the stops H1, H8, and III! are overthrow stops 95, 96, and 91, for the red, black and neutral positions, respectively, in the order named, for a bichrome ribbon. These overthrow stops check the motion of the ribbon-vibrating mechanism.

The stops 95, 96, and 91 may be bent to provide a precise adjustment of the over-throw stops. To prevent choking of the type-bars care must be taken not to bend the stops too closely.

The pivotal connection II between the vibrator-supporting arm 62 and the vibrator-actuating arm 12 has heretofore included a slot having parallel walls, the possible play in which has permittecl inaccurate or varied throw of the ribbon. The present connection 1I makes the orifice 18 of the slot smaller, eliminates this play by means of the inclination of the walls of the orifice toward each other, and provides for a precise adjustment. A special closing tool is used in adjusting the orifice 18 and care is taken to prevent crushing the gasket or collar 15 on the fulcrum-pin 13.

downward slipping of the ribbon while the vibrator is being thrown, and the reinforcing of the parts of the vibrator-guide with reference to each other permits of thinner and therefore lighter construction of the vibrator-guide.

A modification is shown in Figure 15 in which the finger-piece I05 is set at the left notch II2 opposite a red index field I60. A black index field I6! is at the center and a stencil field I62 at the right. The cam-edges on the end of the arm II6 are in different sequence, the red cam-edge I51 at the end of the arm I I8, the black cam-edge I58 next to the right, and the stencil cam I59, non-effective to throw the ribbon vibrator 62 at the right. The black cam-edge I58 is separated from the adjacent cam-edges I51, I59 by smooth inclines as is the case with'the form shown in Figure 12. If desired the finger-piece I05 may be movable normally only from the red field index I60 to the black field index "SI, and vice versa,

' the operation of a latch or other device being required for the unusual stencil index field I62. The overthrow stops on the slide arm 98 are also rearranged as compared with the form shown in Figure 12, as follows, the overthrow stop for red, I63, at the left, the overthrow stop for black, I64, next to the right, and at the extreme right the overthrow stop for stenciling, I65.

A modification is shown in Figure 16 in which the left arm I61 is made a bit longer than the arm I22 shown in Figure 9 so that the toggle does not open into a straight angle as shown in Figure 9, but instead when the downward movement of the link I25 is stopped by the engagement of type 32, 33 with the platen 41 or by the engagement of the upper end of the arm 83 with the overthrow stop I63, the toggle in the extreme downward movement of the link I25 forms an obtuse angle less than a straight angle so that the return movement of the ribbon-vibrator 62 is made more rapid. This position requires a slight upbending of the rear extension of the bracketarm I21. To procure this result an arm I61 is substituted for the arm I22 in the toggle which is a bit longer, or the cam-edges II1, I I8, H9, or I51, I58, I59 are set a bit further to the rear.

A spacer bar 206 (see Fig. 5) is mounted by the usual arms I8I on a rock-shaft I19 so that as bar 206 is depressed a rearwardly and upwardly extending arm 201 is raised and actuates a downwardly and forwardly extending arm 208 mounted on the rock-shaft 89 so that it moves the escapement universal bar 36 rearwardly to letterspace the typewriter.

Fast on the rock-shaft I29 which rotatably supports the universal bar I35 may be positioned a stop-arm 209 (see Figures 17, 8, 9) having a lower right-angled bend to intergage the bottom wall of the rock-shaft I29, the stop-arm 209 being secured thereto by the fastening screw 2I0. This stop-arm 209 swings toward the rock-shaft I19 as the universal bar I35 is depressed'and engages the rock-shaft I19 in the extreme downward position of the universal bar I35. The stoparm 209 may be bent or flexed for adjustment.

An improved touch-control mechanism is shown in Figures 1, 3, 4, 14 and 17. A spacer-bar fulcrum-bracket I10 has an axially projecting tapped stub-shaft I1I which engages a headed screw I12, the latter two parts lying in a horizon;- tal bore in the frame 20 and a lug I18 projecting inwardly therefrom, and the bracket I10 also has an outer vertically depending plate I13 and an inner vertically depending plate I14. Brazing may be used. A vertical groove I15 in the inner end of lug I18 interengages a locking pin I16 to secure the plates I13 and I14 in a vertical position. right end of bracket-shaft I10 and supports the stub III as well as spacing the bracket I10 from the frame-lug I18. The spacer-bar rock-shaft I19 has a fulcrum-pin which engages an axial socket I80 and also supports the forwardly extending spacer-bar-supporting arm I8I, by means of screws I82. A tension spring I83 is mounted on the end of the rock-shaft I19 and has one end hooked under the arm I8I, thereby tending to A collar I11 is axially mounted on the hold it in the upper position, and the other end engaging a nut I84, which is mounted on a right end pivot-screw I and serves to lock the screw adjustably in the inner bracket-plate I14.

A tension pinion-shaft I86 has an axial tapped bore at the left end for engaging a pivot-screw -I85, the right end of the shaft I86 having a bearing in the plate I13 and a screw-groove for a screw-driver to tighten the shaft I86 on the screw I85. A tension pinion I81 is secured on a collar I88, both being rotatable as a unit on the shaft I86 and fixed against rightward movement on the shaft by an annular collar 2I2. An inner spacing collar I 89 is rotatably mounted on the shaft I86 and engages the inner coil of a tension spring I90 which has a tangential rearward extension I9I which rests against a notch in a downward extension of an arm I33. It may be here noted that the extension HI and the arm I33, which latter supports the universal bar I35, swing about the same axis so that there is no radial sliding movement of thespring extension I9 I. The other or outer end I92 of the coil spring I90 is turned axially outwards and engages one of threeradially spaced holes I93 in the tension pinion I81 which furnish a variable primary adjustment of the rotatable tension pinion I81. The inner vertical plate I14 has a lower inward horizontal extension I94 on which is pivotally mounted the inner end of a touch-control tension lever I95, which may be formed of thin springsteel, by means of a pivot screw I96. The intermediate portion of the tension-lever I95 is bent up to form a widened, raised sector I91, in which are spaced-apart recesses I98 which intermesh with teeth I99 on the pinion I81. It is now clear that as the sector I91 moves to the right the tension pinion I81 turns to tighten the coil spring I90, and vice versa. The outer end of the lever arm I95 passes through and is movable through a predetermined arc in a horizontal slot 200 formed in the lower portion on the inner depending plate I13. A ratchet 20I formed in the lower wall of the slot 200 resiliently engages a stud 202 centrally fixed on the bottom of lever I95. An outer vertical extension 203 of the lever I95 supports a knurled handle or finger-piece 204 accessible exteriorly of the typewriter below the frame 20. An index scale 205 on the outer wall of the frame 20 provides for eight positions of the tension lever I95, a notch in the ratchet 20I corresponding toeach position. There are also three primary positions determined by the setting of the end I92 of the coil spring I90 in the holes I98 01 the tension pinion I81.

Between zero position and 7 position, there is an increase of tension on the key-levers 22 of approximately 45%. Individual key-lever springs 24 may be lightened initially to offset the touchcontrol spring. :A slight lifting of the lever I95 or finger-piece 204 eases the action. The contact of the key-levers 22 with the universal bar tongues I36 is arranged to effect a uniform tension adjustment for the different length of key-levers.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriter, in combination, a case-shift platen, a ribbon-vibrator mounted to position different color zones of abichrome ribbon at the printing point of a platen in either upper-case or lower-case position, an arm for supporting said vibrator, an actuating arm pivotally mounted on a case-shiftable element for throwing said supporting arm, a tight pivotal connection between said arms, a transverse actuating pin mounted in the end of said actuating arm, a vertically positioned arm having an inclined slot at the upper end for engaging said transverse pin in either case position, a toggle pivotally connected with said vertically positioned arm, an adjustable stop for varying the initial position of the vertical arm, a slot in the other end of said toggle, a pivoted arm having a transverse pin engaging said toggle slot, an adjustable arm having a cam for positioning said last-named arm and said transverse pin in a plurality of adjusted positions to determine the throw of said vertical arm, a link for actuating said toggle mounted on an arm extending from the universal bar, said arm being positively adjustable to vary the throw of said,

vertical arm, and key-levers mounted to actuate said universal bar.

2. In a typewriter, in combination, a ribbon vibrator, an arm for supporting said vibrator, a pivotally mounted actuating arm pivotally connected with said supporting arm, an actuating pin mounted on an end of said actuating arm, a pivotally mounted arm having a sliding connection with said pin, a toggle having one link plvotally connected with said sliding-connection arm, a pivotal connection for the other link of said toggle, a key-actuated universal bar, and a link connecting said toggle and said universal bar, whereby the ribbon vibrator is moved to the operative position when any key-lever is depressed.

3. In a typewriter, in combination, a ribbon vibrator, an arm for supporting said vibrator, a pivotally mounted actuating arm pivotally connected with said supporting arm, an actuating pin mounted on an end of said actuating arm, a pivotally mounted arm having a sliding connection with said pin, a toggle having one link pivotally connected with said sliding-connection arm, a slidingly variable pivotal connection for the other link of said toggle, a key-actuated universal bar, and a link connecting said toggle and said universal bar, whereby the ribbon vibrator is moved to the operative position when any keylever is depressed. I

4. In a typewriter, in combination, a ribbon vibrator, an arm for supporting said vibrator, a pivotally mounted actuating arm pivotally connected with said supporting arm, an actuating pin mounted on an end of said actuating arm, a pivotally mounted arm having a sliding connection with said pin, a. toggle having one link pivotally connected with said sliding-connection arm, a pivoted arm having a sliding connection with the other link of said toggle, a plurality of stops for selectively engaging said pivoted arm, a key-actuated universal bar, and a link connecting said toggle and said universal bar, whereby the ribbon vibrator is moved to a plurality of operative positions to present different zones of a multicolor ribbon at the printing point or a neutral zone.

5. In a typewriter, in combination, a ribbon vibrator, an arm for supporting said vibrator, a pivotally mounted actuating arm pivotally connected with said supporting arm, an actuating pin mounted on an end of said actuating arm, a pivotally mounted arm having a sliding connection with said pin, a toggle having one link pivotally connected with said sliding-connection arm, a pivotal connection for the other link of said toggle, a key-actuated universal bar, an arm mounted thereon, and a link connecting said toggle and said universal-bar arm whereby the ribbon vibrator is moved to the operative position when any key-lever is depressed, said universalbar arm being positively adjustable to vary the throw of the ribbon vibrator. I

6. In a typewriter, in combination, a ribbon vibrator, an-arm for supporting said vibrator,

' and a pivotally mounted actuating arm having a pivotal connection with said supporting arm, said connection including a bifurcation on the end of one arm, a fulcrum pin having its ends mounted in the ends of said bifurcation, a collar on said fulcrum pin, and a hook on the end of the other arm, said hook having an open throat to admit said collar and constricted to grip the collar in fixed position therein.

'1. In a typewriter, in' combination, a ribbon vibrator, an arm for supporting said vibrator, and a pivotally mounted actuating arm having a pivotal connection with said supporting arm, said connection including a bifurcation on the endof the supporting arm, a fulcrum bearing having its ends mounted in the ends of said bifurcation, and a hook on the end of the actuating arm, said hook having an open throat to ad- -mit said fulcrum bearing and constricted to retain the fulcrum bearing in fixed position therein.

8. In a typewriter, in combination, a ribbon vibrator, an arm for supporting said vibrator,

and a pivotally mounted actuating arm having a pivotal connection with said supporting arm, said connection including a bifurcation on the end of the supporting arm, a fulcrum bearing having its ends mounted in the ends of said bifurcation, the intermediate portion of said bearing being larger than said ends and forming spacing stops for the inner edges of said bifurcation, and a hook on the end of the actuating arm, said hook having an open throat to admit said fulcrum bearing and constricted to retain the bearing in fixed position therein.

9. In a typewriter, in combinatiorf, a ribbon vibrator, an arm for supporting said vibrator, a pivotally mounted actuating arm pivotally connected with said supporting arm, an actuating pin transversely mounted on an end of said actuating arm, a pivotally mounted arm having a sliding connection with said pin, a toggle having one link pivotally connected with said slidingconnection arm, a pivoted arm having a sliding connection with the other link of said toggle, a plurality of stops for selectively engaging said pivoted arm, to determine the effective throw of the toggle, an adjustable stop for determining the initial position of said sliding-connection arm, a key-actuated universal bar, an arm mounted thereon, and a linkconnecting said toggle and said universal-bar. arm whereby said vibrator may be moved to a plurality of predetermined operative positions from a positively adjustable inoperative position.

10. In a typewriter, in combination, a ribbon vibrator, an armfor supporting said vibrator, a pivotally mounted actuating arm pivotally connected with said supporting arm, an actuating pin transversely mounted on an end of said actuating arm, and a pivotally mounted arm having a sliding connection with said pin, said vibrator and said actuating arm being mounted for caseshifting, said transverse pin being movable along said slide during case-shifting, the effective wall of the slide being inclined to the axis of the sliding-connection arm, whereby the throw of the actuating arm in one position may be adjusted with relation to the throw of the actuating arm in another position. I

11. In a typewriter, in combination, a ribbon vibrator, an arm for supporting said vibrator. a pivotally mounted actuating arm pivotally connected with said supporting arm, an actuating pin transversely mounted on an end of said actuating arm, and a pivotally mounted arm having a slot connection with said pin, said vibrator and 12. In a typewriter, in combination, a ribbon vibrator normally below the printing line, an arm for throwing said vibrator, a toggle for actuating said arm, a link for actuating said toggle, a universal bar actuable by a plurality of key-levers, and a bendable arm connecting the link and the universal bar whereby the amount of actuating motion of said toggle may be varied to vary the throw of the ribbon.

13. In a typewriter, in combination, a ribbon vibrator normally below the printing line, an arm for throwing said vibrator, a toggle for actuating said arm, a link for actuating said toggle, a universal bar actuable by a plurality of keylevers, and a bendable arm substantially horizontally positioned and connecting the link and the universal bar whereby the amount of actuating motion of said toggle may be varied to vary the throw of the ribbon.

14. In a typewriter, in combination, a ribbon vibrator normally below the printing line, an arm for throwing said vibrator, a toggle for actuating said arm, a linkfor actuating said toggle, a universal bar actuable by a plurality of keylevers, reinforcing means on the universal bar to prevent bending of said bar, and a ,bendable arm substantially horizontally positioned, connecting the link and the universal bar whereby the amount of actuating motion of said toggle may be varied to vary the throw of the ribbon.

15. In atypewriting machine, in combination, a plurality of key-levers, a universal bar mounted transversely of and beneath said key-levers, a

rock-shaft, arms supporting said universal bar on said rock-shaft, means for operating a ribbonvibrator connected with said universal bar, a transversely mounted spacer-bar rock-shaft, and a stop arm mounted on said first named rockshaft and engaging said spacer-bar rock-shaft.

16. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a plurality of key-levers, a universal bar mounted transversely of and beneath said key-levers, a rock-shaft, arms supporting said universal bar on said rock-shaft, means for operating a ribbonvibrator connected with said universal bar, a transversely mounted spacer-bar rock-shaft, and an adjustable stop arm mounted on said first named rock-shaft and engaging said spacer-bar rock-shaft.

1'7. In a ribbon-vibrating mechanism for typewriters, in combination, a ribbon vibrator, a toggle operatively connected to said vibrator and having articulated links operable from uniformly broken to straight condition, and selectively variable means for varying the effective throw of said toggle to move said vibrator to various predetermined operating positions.

18. In a ribbon-vibrating mechanism for typewriters having a frame and a platen-carriage case-shiftable thereon, in combination, a ribbon vibrator and an actuating arm for said vibrator, mounted to move with said carriage in case-shifting, a reciprocatory arm operatively mounted on the frame and having a pin and slot connection to said actuating arm to permit movement thereof with the carriage in case-shifting, said slot being disposed to correspond with the case-shift direction, a toggle on the frame flexibly connected to said reciprocatory arm and operatively mounted on the frame, and selective means for varying the effective throw of said toggle to move the vibrator to various operating positions.

19. In a ribbon-vibrating mechanism for typewriters, in combination, a ribbon vibrator, a toggle having one link operatively connected with said vibrator, means operable in uniform strokes for actuating said toggle, a normally fixed pin, the other link of said toggle having a slot slidably engaging said pin and affording a limited ineffective motion of said toggle, and means for selectively setting said pin to vary the limits of ineffective motion and correspondingly vary the extent of movement of said vibrator.

20. In a ribbon-vibratingmechanism for typewriters, in combination, a ribbon vibrator, an actuating train for said vibrator, including an oscillatory arm, a toggle having first and second links, said first link being pivoted to said arm, a selectively settable pin, the other link of said toggle being slidable for limited endwise movement on said pin, and means operable in a uniform stroke for actuating said toggle,the actuation of said toggle initially tending to straighten the toggle with the first said link swinging about the pivot of said arm, the arm being normally stationary while the second said link slides on said pin to take up the limited endwise movement of said second link, and upon further actuation, to move said toggle to substantially straight condition and thereby actuate said arm by cooperation of the toggle with said pin, the selective setting of said pin being effective to vary the predetermined movement of said arm. 7

21. In a ribbon-vibrating mechanism for typewriters, in combination, a ribbon vibrator, an oscillatory arm operatively connected with said vibrator, a toggle having one link pivotally connected to said arm, a settable pin, the other link of said toggle being slidably engaged for limited endwise movement on said pin, means for selectively setting said pin to vary the throw of said toggle, and a series of stops selectively engageable with said oscillatory arm to prevent overthrow of said vibrator.

22. In a ribbon-vibrating mechanism for typewriters, in combination, a ribbon vibrator, an oscillatory arm operatively connected with said vibrator, a toggle having one link pivoted to said arm, a settable pin, the other link of said toggle being slidably engaged for limited endwise movement on said pin, a series of stops selectively presentable to said arm to prevent overthrow of said vibrator, and means for selectively setting said pin to vary the efiective throw of said toggle and concomitantly set one of said stops.

23. In a ribbon-vibratingmechanism for typewriters, in combination, a ribbon vibrator, an oscillatory arm operatively connected with said vibrator, a toggle having one link pivotally connected to said arm, a settable pin, the other link 01' said toggle being slidably engaged for limited endwise movement on said pin, an arm carrying said pin, and a movable cam engaging said pincarrying arm to selectively set said pin and thereby vary the effective throw of said toggle.

24. In a ribbon-vibrating mechanism for typewriters, in combination, a ribbon vibrator, an oscillatory arm operatively connected with said vibrator, a toggle having one link pivotally connected to said arm, a settable pin, the other link of said toggle being slidably engaged for limited endwise movement on said pin, an arm carrying said pin, a movable cam engaging said pin-carrying arm to selectively set said pin and thereby vary the effective throw of said toggle, and a series of stops selectively presentable to said oscillatory arm to prevent overthrow of said vibrator.

25. In a ribbon-vibrating mechanism for typewriters, in combination, a ribbon vibrator, an oscillatory arm operatively connected with said vibrator, a toggle having one link pivotally connected to said arm, a settable pin, the other link of said toggle being slidably engaged for limited endwise movement on said pin, an arm carrying said pin, a series of shoulders selectively presentable to said pin-carrying arm, and a series of stops selectively presentable to said oscillatory arm to prevent overthrow of said vibrator.

26. In a ribbon-vibrating mechanism for typewriters, in combination, a ribbon vibrator, an oscillatory m operatively connected with said vibrator, a oggle having one link pivotally connected to said arm. a settable pin, the other link of said toggle being slidably engaged for limited endwise movement on said pin, an arm carrying said pin, a series of shoulders selectively presentable to said pin-carrying arm, a series of stops selectively presentable to said oscillatory arm to prevent overthrow of said vibrator, and means 5' i for concomitantly setting said shoulders and said stops.

27. In a ribbon-vibrating mechanism for typewriters, in combination, a ribbon vibrator, an oscillatory arm operatively connected with said vibrator, a toggle having one link pivotally connected to said arm, a settable pin, the other link of said toggle being slidably engaged for limited endwise movement on said pin, means for selectively setting said pin to vary the throw of said toggle, and a stop engaging said arm in active position thereof to predetermine the initial position of said vibrator.

WILLIAM F. HELMOND. 

